A walking trail through Salem may be getting some attention in the form of renovations and care, according to discussions from recent city meetings. The trail follows the route of an old Frisco rail line that once ran through the center of town. It starts near the corner of Grand Ave. and W. 3rd St., crossing over Rolla Road by the Salem Senior Center, and ending at a rail trestle bridge next to the city wastewater treatment plant, just off N. Main St. (Hwy. 19).
Citizens Jay Anderson and John Hambacker spoke to the board of aldermen regarding the trail during the Sept. 12 meeting. Hambacker said that several aspects of the trail had fallen into disrepair, and that he felt the trail was not being utilized to the extent it could.
Maintenance was the foremost concern brought to the city regarding the trail; Hambacker cited a broken bench, unkempt trees, and the closed trestle bridge as areas in need of attention.
The trail has no signage either, said Hambacker. He said that he felt that the trail could be an attraction for tourists visiting the area. He and Anderson made the case that, given all the historically significant locales along the trail, that there should be historical markers along the trail as part of the historical walking tour. The Salem Area Betterment Association has signs all over town, demarcating interesting spots of historical significance along the route of a walking tour.
The Board of Aldermen was receptive to the idea and decided to have the issue brought before the Parks & Recreation Board. The topic was discussed at their Sept. 19 meeting. During that meeting, Hambacker and Anderson talked about improvements that they would like to see on the trail.
For signage, Hambacker said he would provide a 5’x8’ metal sign for the entrance to the trail, where there is parking available. According to minutes from the meeting, Hambacker said he would like to see the existing two benches be repaired, and discussed the possibility of having two more benches installed for visitors that need to take breaks more frequently. Anderson discussed the history along the trail. Hambacker discussed the possibility of having the walking trail laid out in a brochure that those who are visiting the community could use. The possibility of planting some trees on the trail was also discussed. The board also discussed who is responsible for the maintenance of the trail, and decided to gather more information before discussing the topic further.
Anderson and Hambacker attended the Sept. 3 meeting of the Parks & Recreation Board. Carlos Lopez, Board President, said he was appreciative of Hambacker and Anderson’s efforts.
“I for one am happy that people in our community go to so [many] lengths and efforts to try and make sure that not only our parks and recreation, but other stuff in our community, are maintained appropriately as well as made better,” said Lopez.
Parks and Recreation Director Melissa DuBois said that she was previously unaware whether the Parks and Recreation department was responsible for the care and maintenance of the trail.
“First, let me just say, last meeting we really didn’t know who was in charge of said trail. I spoke with Sally [Burbridge, City Administrator], and I just said that if it was my responsibility, it would have been taken care of, but nobody ever told me it was our responsibility. So, I just said, I think it should be part of our responsibility, because it is trail, it is parks and rec,” said DuBois. “I went ahead and walked the trail, and [a city employee] went ahead and mowed it and manicured it, and I pointed out some trees of concern.”
DuBois said that she inspected the benches and the bridge to get an idea of what Hambacker and Anderson were discussing. She said that the method by which the city mows the property might lead to issues if many new signs were installed along the trail. She said she doesn’t mind having signs along the way, but said they would have to be strategically placed.
DuBois suggested that the signs accompany existing obstacles, or new benches that may be installed. Hambacker said that his main concern was the main sign planned to mark the trailhead.
“We’re not looking at a lot of benches. In fact, it’s the last thing on the agenda. As to where the original sign goes, that’s on city property, I already talked to Mr. [Mark] Nash [Public Works Director] about that, saying, what is the approval? Can it be placed there? What are the restrictions on it? And all of those things yet have to be done. So, he’s working on that,” said Hambacker. “But I will discuss everything with you, because now I know who’s in charge. Before, we were kind of like a ping-pong ball being bounced around, and now we kind of know where we are.”
DuBois said she was fine with moving forward, but requested a “concrete idea” of the project before final approval can be given. Hambacker said he had provided Lopez with a proposal, which Lopez said he would make copies of. As far as a timeline goes, Hambacker said it would be “ridiculous” for him to expect a timeline he set forward to be followed, because of how many organizations and members he had to consult to move forward. He said he would be trying to figure out the details for the main marker sign.
“We have to find out through the city whether that sign can be placed there, how far does it have to be placed from the road? I think there are going to be some restrictions that are going to be required there. If I don’t get approval on that, a lot of this then, is I think, kind of a junky idea. I don’t know that it goes anywhere,” said Hambacker.
Board Member and County Clerk Angie Curley made a motion to recommend to the Board of Aldermen that the project move forward and to authorize DuBois to communicate with Anderson and Hambacker on the project and to bring a report before the board as needed. Board Member Kristy Rushing seconded, and the motion carried 5-0. Board member Stacey Jones was absent.
Also during the meeting:
• The board discussed the creation of a policy to close the park from the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (unless the aldermen grant a special extension), after reviewing policies from other communities. The policy is a bid to reduce property damage, loitering, and other late-night mischief, which according to the discussion from the meeting, has been a recurring issue in the past. Rushing made a motion to recommend the establishment of a new policy, closing the park during the listed hours with the approval of the city attorney who is reviewing the policy. Board Member Caleb Shepherd seconded, and the motion carried 5-0. City staff will draft the policy, it will be reviewed by the city attorney, and then returned to the Parks & Recreation Board.
• The board approved a recommendation to appoint Luke Heithold to the board by a 5-0 vote. Alderman Kyle Williams suggested the possibility of adding another member to the board, which can have between five and nine members, but Lopez said he felt that an odd number of seven members was better than an even number. No action was taken.
• Following the meeting, the board entered a closed session.
